The first tee box has its own set of unwritten rules and friendly rituals, and the tee flip is one of the most common and beloved traditions in the game. It’s a simple, elegant solution for deciding who has the honor of teeing off first when no one in your group clearly holds it from the previous round. This guide will walk you through exactly what a tee flip is, the easy way to do it, and why this small ritual is such a big part of golf's spirit and camaraderie.
At its heart, a tee flip is perhaps the simplest-ever method a group of golfers can use to randomly determine the order of play. One person from the group tosses a golf tee into the air, and wherever the pointed end lands is the person who hits first. It’s golf’s version of drawing the short straw or flipping a coin, but it’s done with an item that every single person in the group has on hand.
So, why not just flip a coin? Or have the person with the lowest handicap go first? While those are valid methods, the tee flip is often preferred in casual rounds for a few reasons:
The tee flip is a classic way to establish the "honor" on the first tee. In golf, the "honor" refers to the right to play first from the tee box. On every hole after the first, the honor is won by the player with the lowest score on the hole before. But on that first tee, when everyone starts with a clean slate, the tee flip is the great equalizer.
Pulling off a tee flip is incredibly easy, but like a good golf swing, there’s a bit of finesse to it that can make the process smoother. Here’s a simple breakdown of how to handle it like you’ve been doing it for years.
Get your playing partners to huddle up in a loose circle on a flat part of the teeing ground. You don’t need to be shoulder-to-shoulder, just close enough that everyone has an equal shot at being chosen. This casual gathering is what begins the ritual.
One person volunteers to be the "flipper." It doesn't matter who. They should take a standard golf tee and hold it pinched between their thumb and forefinger. The key here is a gentle toss, not a launch. You're aiming to loft it just a few feet into the air - enough for it to tumble a bit - so it lands softly in the middle of the group.
A good tip: Try to aim for a patch of grass. Tossing it onto the hard tee markers or a spot with loose sand can cause it to bounce erratically and lead to inconclusive results that require a re-flip.
Let the tee come to a complete stop on its own. All eyes will be on it. Once it settles, everyone can see who the pointed end of the tee is aimed at. That person has the honor and can tee up their ball and get the round started. The playing order for the rest of the group can then proceed clockwise or counter-clockwise from there, or you can do another set of flips for second, third, and fourth if you'd like to make it truly random.
While the tee flip is straightforward, a few unique scenarios can pop up. Over time, golfers have developed a set of informal "house rules" to deal with them. Knowing these will have you looking like a seasoned veteran.
This is the most common hiccup. The tee lands in a spot where it's not clearly pointing at any one person, but rather somewhere in the no-man's-land between two players. Don’t start a debate. The universally accepted solution is simple: a re-flip. Just pick it up and toss it again. The goal is fairness and fun, not a lengthy negotiation.
This is a rare and almost legendary event. The tee somehow manages to land in soft ground and stand perfectly upright, pointing at the sky. There’s no official rule for this, but it’s a moment of fun that’s usually met with laughter. The most common tradition? The flipper (or the entire group) has to buy the first round of drinks at the 19th hole. It’s an amusing outcome that adds to the folklore of your group.
Absolutely. This is a popular variation called the "tee spin." Instead of tossing the tee in the air, you place it on a flat spot on the tee box (the tee marker works perfectly for this), and spin it like a top. When it falls over, the pointed end again determines who has the honor. Some golf groups prefer the spin because it feels a little more contained and less prone to a crazy bounce. Both the toss and the spin accomplish the same goal.
You could easily decide playing order with something generic like rock-paper-scissors or a coin toss, so why has the tee flip endured for so long? The reason is that it feels uniquely golf. You're using an integral piece of the sport's own equipment to carry out one of its oldest traditions.
It’s a tradition that connects you to generations of golfers who have stood on the very same kind of patch of ground, preparing to play the same game. There’s something calming and centering about it. Before the stress of trying to hit a straight drive, before anyone has posted a score, the tee flip reminds everyone that golf is, above all else, a game to be enjoyed with others. It’s a small ceremony that recognizes fairness and respect for the game and for the people you’re playing with.
Once the tee flip crowns the player with the honor on the first hole, the rules for determining the order of play typically shift. For the rest of the round, the "honor" is determined by performance. Here’s the simple way it works:
This approach rewards good play, creating a natural and satisfying flow to the round where the player who is "hot" gets to lead the way.
The tee flip is more than just a quirky method for deciding who hits first, it's a simple tradition that kicks off your round with a spirit of fairness, friendship, and fun. Whether you toss it in the air or give it a spin, this small ritual gets everyone involved from the very first minute and sets a wonderfully relaxed tone for the day ahead.
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